Can Fantasy Football Increase Your Sales? Yes. It can.

Just when you think instant gratification couldn't get more instant, along came fantasy sports leagues that allow you to play just for the week. They promise millions of dollars in payouts for only pennies of investment. Too good to be true? Maybe. But worth reviewing if you are a salesperson or sales manager looking to close more sales by this weekend.

What can we learn from this new breed of fantasy sports?  Here are four things that caught our attention:

Opening Kick-Off: Goal Setting

This one’s a no brainer – if you get into sales, or play fantasy sports, you are a natural goal-setter. But to achieve your goals you need more than big ideas or wild-eyed passion to strike it big. You need a game plan that you can stick to for at least the first half. Your real team, and your fantasy team, will thank you and respect your leadership.

Scoring Drive: Your Offer

Bringing the best offer to your customers is the only sure way to close sales today. But do you do that with the competition blitzing every time you hike the ball?  Same as picking your fantasy team – throw everything you have at them, every week. Finesse plays only work on rare occasions – most games (and fantasy leagues) are won in the trenches.

Halftime: Making Adjustments

The best fantasy players know when to make minor adjustments, and when to change things up in a big way. With new tools and technologies, today this is easier then ever. Take every chance you get to evaluate your talent, keep an eye on your funnel, and surprise your opponents with an updated plan – and players.

Two-Minute Warning: Never Give Up

When the going gets tough, the toughest players keep things in perspective. Almost half of NFL games are decided by a touchdown or less. Peyton Manning, the NFL’s all time leader in game-winning scoring drives (and not a bad fantasy draft choice) said that “Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you are doing.” Whether the game, or your season, is on the line, don’t let the pressure get to you – and definitely don’t give up until the final whistle.